oneworld rules relating to lounge access when travelling in mixed cabins, whilst generous, are slightly more onerous than BA's, in that when travelling short haul in economy on a flight marketed and operated by a
oneworld member airline, lounge access is granted on the condition your same day connecting flight is/was long haul, premium cabin, marketed and operated by a
oneworld member airline. BA for example will permit lounge access to passengers without status, travelling in economy (Euro Traveller or UK Domestic) connecting to/from a Club Europe flight.
In practice the same day connection requirement is loosely applied. For example lounge access may be granted when connecting from an overnight flight. The general acceptance is so long as your departing flight occurs on the same day as your previous flight arrived you will be granted access during your transit.
Passengers arriving into LHR having flown in First Class with an onward connection on BA at T5 may use the Concorde Room providing:
- The incoming flight was operated by BA. This excludes BA codeshare on another oneworld partner metal
- And/or, the departing flight is operated by BA and the class of travel is First
Lounge access during transit when transferring from one class of service to another - the basic premise seems to be the most substantial part of the journey guides the transit access. Here are a few scenarios describing the rules in play:
Scenario 1
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 2
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 3
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying long haul flight
Scenario 4
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 5
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a qualifying long haul flight (mixing classes)
Scenario 6
Transit from a qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Business UK lounge access
BA operates an all economy class service on its UK domestic routes. While the service on board remains undeniably economy class, fully flexible ticket holders are entitled to enjoy the use of business class lounges before boarding their domestic flight. The applicable booking classes are J and Y. If you don't know your precise booking class, don't worry. If your ticket is eligible your boarding pass will be marked with "BUSINESS UK" on the long stub.
Business UK ticket status also applies to domestic flights when purchased in conjunction with a premium class international ticket, whether that be connecting to or from a Club Europe, World Traveller Plus, Club World or First flight. Note, with premium class redemptions Business UK typically do not apply to UK Domestic connections. However, you will be granted access before boarding your domestic flight on presentation of your same day onward (or preceeding) business or first class boarding pass.
Guesting privileges qualified by class of travel
With regard to
oneworld lounges, the guesting rules are relatively straight forward.
Travelling first class
The ticket holder may invite one guest into a oneworld first class or business class lounge. Both the first class ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
Travelling business class
No guests
When it comes to the extra provisions BA offers its own customers at its own lounges, the rules are slightly more complicated. Again, listed below are the qualifications by class of travel (which may be trumped by your status)
BA First ticket holders- BA Concorde Room:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both must be flying BA
- BA owned First lounge:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both the ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
- BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both the ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
- BA Departure Spa treatments:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA First pre-flight dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Club pre-flight dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Arrivals lounge:
Ticket holder has access to the Arrivals lounge and inner Concorde Room. No guests
Club World ticket holders- BA Concorde Room:
No access
- BA owned First lounge:
No access
- BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Departure Spa treatments:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA First pre-flight dining:
No access
- BA Pre-flight Club dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Arrivals lounge:
Ticket holder has access to the lounge. No access to the inner Concorde Room. No guests
Club Europe ticket holders- BA Concorde Room:
No access
- BA owned First lounge:
No access
- BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Departure Spa treatments:
No access
- BA First pre-flight dining:
No access
- BA Club pre-flight dining:
No access
- BA Arrivals lounge:
No access
Business UK ticket holders- BA Concorde Room:
No access
- BA owned First lounge:
No access
- BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests
- BA Departure Spa treatments:
No access
- BA First pre-flight dining:
No access
- BA Club pre-flight dining:
No access
- BA Arrivals lounge:
No access
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database